The activation of a self-amplifying cascade of caspases, of which caspase-8 is the apical protease, mediates Fas-, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-, and TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis in colon cell lines. Nitric oxide (NO) protects from apoptosis induced by Fas and TNF-alpha. We examined whether NCX-456, an NO-releasing derivative of mesalamine, protects colon...

A simple FI and two different SI systems have been investigated for the determination of paracetamol by employing a simple reagent for a nitrosation reaction. It is based on the on-line nitrosation of paracetamol with sodium nitrite in an acidic medium. The formed nitroso derivative species reacts further with sodium hydroxide to convert it to a more stable compound. The yellow product is conti...

The autoxidation of nitric oxide (NO.) forms the nitrosating agent N2O3, which can directly damage DNA by deamination of DNA bases following nitrosation of their primary amine functionalities. Within the G:C base pair, deamination results in the formation of xanthine and uracil, respectively. To determine the effect of DNA structure on the deamination of guanine and cytosine, the NO.-induced de...

Molecular mechanisms involved in uterine quiescence during gestation and those responsible for induction of labor at term are incompletely known. More than 10% of babies born worldwide are premature and 1,000,000 die annually. Preterm labor results in preterm delivery in 50% of cases in the United States explaining 75% of fetal morbidity and mortality. There is no Food and Drug Administration-a...

BACKGROUND Genome-wide association studies have revealed significant association of caveolin-1 (Cav1) gene variants with increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias. Nevertheless, the mechanism for this linkage is unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS Using adult Cav1(-/-) mice, we revealed a marked reduction in the left ventricular conduction velocity in the absence of myocardial Cav1, which is accompanied...

Nitrosative stress can occur when reactive nitric oxide (NO) species compromise the function of biomolecules via formation of NO adducts on critical amine and thiol residues. The capacity of inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) to generate nitrosative stress was investigated in the murine macrophage line ANA-1. Sequential activation with the cytokines IFN-gamma and either tumor necrosis facto...

Glycation of proteins forms fructosamines and AGEs (advanced glycation end products). Oxidative and nitrosative stress leads to the formation of oxidative and nitrosative modifications. The modified amino acid residues formed in these processes are biomarkers of protein damage: some are risk markers and some may be risk factors for disease development. We developed a method for the concurrent q...

Chloramination of drinking waters has been associated with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) formation as a disinfection byproduct. NDMA is classified as a probable carcinogen and thus its formation during chloramination has recently become the focus of considerable research interest. In this study, the formation mechanisms of NDMA from ranitidine and trimethylamine (TMA), as models of tertiary ami...